Cindy McCain, elegant, wealthy and conservative
04 November 2008 à 16h08
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She’s the kind of woman you would say is good looking. Long blond hair, blue eyes. Elegant colourful silk suits with jewelry that matches. And a beer empire that ensures her husband a comfortable starting point. The 54-year-old woman is the perfect would-be first lady.
She likes to say that she is the only person her husband can rely on. She met him at a military reception in 1979. They both lied about their ages, her saying she was four years older, him saying he was four years younger… They fell in love, and so and so forth, you know the story.
Seven grown up children, three of which John McCain had with his first wife. The nine of them now simply form a perfect little American family.
It is true that some people have accused her of being a Stepford wife –in reference to that film where men have robot-wives. Some others have said she’s a mix between two « Desperate housewives » heroines : Edie Britt for the looks and the cheerleader past, Bree Van De Kamp for the conservative spirit and the lack of expression on her face.
A look that has been frequently criticized but that can also be read as a mark of strength : Cindy McCain recovered from a stroke that almost killed her in 2004 and yet, here she is, supporting her husband at every meeting, staying away from policy issues, but enjoying standing beside him clapping and smiling. She says she spends more time with her husband during political campaigns than any other time ; a surprising assessment, different from what politicians’ wives usually say.
Photo Reuters
This is not a detail : one of Cindy McCain’s most powerful way of supporting her husband is her being chair of Hensley and Co, one of the largest beer distributors in the US. Her father founded this empire, and she inherited it eight years ago. A remarkable asset for John McCain’s campaign. Although her role in the company is merely consultative, thanks to this position, Cindy McCain has a 6 million dollar annual income. And it is not a secret : in America, money is not optional if you want to win a presidential election…
Also, apart from wealth, Cindy inherited her father’s contacts in politics which helped John McCain gain a strong foothold in Arizona, where she grew up (Phoenix).
In 1988, the future McCain spouse founded the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVMT), that organized trips for doctors and nurses to provide medical assistance in disaster-struck or war-torn countries. Many missions were organized to Iraq, Zaire, Vietnam, India, Nicaragua… In Bangladesh, in 1991, she met a little girl that needed to be taken to the United States for medical treatment and so, she decided to adopt her and named her Bridget.
But while she was heading the organization she became addicted to painkillers which she initially took to alleviate her backaches. More than twenty pills a day, for three years. She came to a point where she had an AVMT physician write illegal prescriptions for her. She ended up attending a drug treatment facility. In 1994, because of the scandal that broke out in the media, she was forced to dissolve the AVMT.
But all that is behind her now. If John McCain were chosen to go to the White House, she has warned everyone : she’d be a traditional First Lady and wouldn’t attend cabinet meetings. So, basically, she’d be a regular housewife, with a stunning wardrobe.
The (much too) perfect (desperate) housewife
She likes to say that she is the only person her husband can rely on. She met him at a military reception in 1979. They both lied about their ages, her saying she was four years older, him saying he was four years younger… They fell in love, and so and so forth, you know the story.
Seven grown up children, three of which John McCain had with his first wife. The nine of them now simply form a perfect little American family.
It is true that some people have accused her of being a Stepford wife –in reference to that film where men have robot-wives. Some others have said she’s a mix between two « Desperate housewives » heroines : Edie Britt for the looks and the cheerleader past, Bree Van De Kamp for the conservative spirit and the lack of expression on her face.
A look that has been frequently criticized but that can also be read as a mark of strength : Cindy McCain recovered from a stroke that almost killed her in 2004 and yet, here she is, supporting her husband at every meeting, staying away from policy issues, but enjoying standing beside him clapping and smiling. She says she spends more time with her husband during political campaigns than any other time ; a surprising assessment, different from what politicians’ wives usually say.
Photo Reuters
Meet the beer queen
This is not a detail : one of Cindy McCain’s most powerful way of supporting her husband is her being chair of Hensley and Co, one of the largest beer distributors in the US. Her father founded this empire, and she inherited it eight years ago. A remarkable asset for John McCain’s campaign. Although her role in the company is merely consultative, thanks to this position, Cindy McCain has a 6 million dollar annual income. And it is not a secret : in America, money is not optional if you want to win a presidential election…
Also, apart from wealth, Cindy inherited her father’s contacts in politics which helped John McCain gain a strong foothold in Arizona, where she grew up (Phoenix).
Taking advantage of a non-profit organization : lesson 1
In 1988, the future McCain spouse founded the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVMT), that organized trips for doctors and nurses to provide medical assistance in disaster-struck or war-torn countries. Many missions were organized to Iraq, Zaire, Vietnam, India, Nicaragua… In Bangladesh, in 1991, she met a little girl that needed to be taken to the United States for medical treatment and so, she decided to adopt her and named her Bridget.
But while she was heading the organization she became addicted to painkillers which she initially took to alleviate her backaches. More than twenty pills a day, for three years. She came to a point where she had an AVMT physician write illegal prescriptions for her. She ended up attending a drug treatment facility. In 1994, because of the scandal that broke out in the media, she was forced to dissolve the AVMT.
But all that is behind her now. If John McCain were chosen to go to the White House, she has warned everyone : she’d be a traditional First Lady and wouldn’t attend cabinet meetings. So, basically, she’d be a regular housewife, with a stunning wardrobe.
